Flexible plate for swimming pool suction cleaner
A submersible cleaner includes a valve within a flow passage for interrupting fluid flow and thus drive the cleaned over submerged surfaces to be cleaned. A retractable element moveable between the valve and a wall within the passage reduces a gap formed between them such that flow through the passage is directed along one side of the valve resulting in improved driving power and reduced clogging by debris passing through the passage. The retractable element may be attached to either the valve or the wall, and may make slidable engagement with between them. A flexible plate engaging the surface includes a plurality of tongues radially extending about the periphery with each tongue having a lower surface portion contacting the surface to be cleaned and an outmost portion contoured away from the surface.
This application is a continuation of Utility application Ser. No. 10/621,070, filed Jul. 16, 2003 issuing as U.S. Pat. No. 6,966,092 for Swimming Pool Cleaning Apparatus, which claims priority to Provisional Application No. 60/396,208 for Swimming Pool Cleaning Apparatus and Method, filed Jul. 16, 2002, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties all commonly owned.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention generally relates to self propelled swimming pool cleaners for cleaning submerged surfaces, and more particularly to a swimming pool cleaning apparatus incorporating a flow control valve for establishing intermittent flow of a fluid through the cleaner for causing the cleaner to travel across the surface to be cleaned.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONSubmersible pool cleaners employing oscillating valves within a housing and flexible discs engaging the surface to be cleaned are generally well known, as illustrated by way of example with reference to U.S. Pat. No. 4,023,227 to Chauvier and U.S. Pat. No. 4,351,077 to Hofmann. What is also generally known are the problems associated with debris clogging fluid flow passages, wearing cleaner components rendering the cleaner ineffective or unusable, and the difficulty for a consumer attempting to replace such worn components. Embodiments of the present invention herein described provide an efficiently run submersible cleaner which includes components that are easily replaceable by the consumer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA submersible cleaner in keeping with the teachings of the present invention may include a housing moveable along a submerged surface to be cleaned through fluid flow past a valve operable for moving the cleaner. The housing may include a flow passage for a flow of fluid and debris from an inlet to an outlet with the fluid and debris constrained to flow through an opening defined within the passage. A wall may extend into the flow passage for defining the opening. A valve may be operable within the flow passage for interrupting fluid flow. A retractable element may be moveable between the valve and the wall for reducing a gap formed between them. The retractable element may be attached to either the valve or the wall, and may make slidable engagement.
A flexible plate may be carried proximate the inlet for engaging the surface to be cleaned. The flexible plate may be described to include an upper surface, an opposing lower surface for contacting the surface to be cleaned, and a periphery defined by a plurality of tongues radially extending about the periphery. Each of the plurality of tongues may include a lower surface portion for contacting the surface to be cleaned and a contouring portion in a spaced relation with the surface to be cleaned during operation of the apparatus, thus upwardly lifting an outer most periphery of the plate from the surface to be cleaned. A plurality of reinforcing elements may be integrally formed with the flexible plate for upwardly contouring the periphery from the surface to be cleaned. The reinforcing elements may include a rib that may be integrally formed with the upper surface of the flexible plate with the rib extending radially outward while confined within the periphery of the flexible plate. Alternatively, the reinforcing element may comprise a flange extending along the peripheral edge of the tongue, or yet other reinforcing styled elements.
Embodiments of the invention are described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that this invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numerals refer to like elements.
With reference initially to
The housing 12 includes a single flow passage 36 extending from an inlet 38 to an outlet 40 for a flow of fluid and debris through the passage, as described with reference to
With continued reference to
With reference again to
As illustrated with reference again to
Alternate embodiments keeping within the teachings of the present invention, may include by way of example, the head portion 92 having a protrusion 104 extending radially outward from the valve distal end 60 for slidably receiving the retractable element 58, as illustrated with to reference to
With reference to
With reference again to
As illustrates with reference again to
By way of further example, and as illustrated with reference again to
Pleats 138 provide yet another alternative for adding flexibility to the plate 32, as illustrated with reference
With reference to
As earlier described with reference to
As illustrated with reference again to
Various embodiments of the present invention have been herein described in the drawings and specification, by way of example. Although specific terminology was employed, the terms are used in a descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. The invention has been described in detail with specific reference to these illustrated embodiments. However, it will be apparent that various modifications and changes may be made while keeping within the teachings and scope of the invention as described in the foregoing specification and as defined in claims.
Claims
1. A flexible plate operable with a submerged swimming pool suction cleaner, the flexible plate comprising:
- an upper surface and a longitudinally opposing lower surface defining a thickness dimension therebetween;
- a center portion having an aperture extending longitudinally therethrough for connection to a pool cleaner body, a periphery transversely displaced therefrom, and an intermediate portion therebetween,
- wherein the thickness dimension is generally uniform from the aperture to an outermost edge of the periphery; and
- wherein the periphery is curved upwardly relative to the intermediate portion when the flexible plate is placed on a generally flat surface to be cleaned, thus having the intermediate portion contacting the surface to be cleaned and the periphery curved upwardly out of contact therewith at the outermost edge thereof; and
- a reinforcing element formed for reinforcing the upwardly curved periphery, wherein the reinforcing element includes a rib integrally formed with the upper surface and confined within the outermost edge of the periphery so as not to extend outwardly therebeyond.
2. A flexible plate according to claim 1, further comprising a flange extending about the aperture, wherein the flange increases the thickness dimension proximate the aperture.
3. A flexible plate according to claim 1, wherein the periphery includes a plurality of tongues extending thereabout, and wherein each of the plurality of tongues includes the rib.
4. A flexible plate according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of tongues extend radially outward from a center of the flexible plate.
5. A flexible plate according to claim 3, wherein a lower surface portion of the tongues comprises a first portion contacting the surface to be cleaned and a second outermost portion in the upwardly curved periphery.
6. A flexible plate according to claim 3, further comprising a plurality of slots outwardly extending from the intermediate portion.
7. A flexible plate according to claim 6, wherein each of the plurality of slots extends along a first imaginary line centrally positioned between a second imaginary line passing centrally through each of the plurality of tongues.
8. A flexible plate according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of slots outwardly extending from the intermediate portion.
9. A flexible plate according to claim 8, further comprising a plurality of slits and wherein each one of the plurality of slits extends from each one of the plurality of slots outwardly through the periphery.
10. A flexible plate according to claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of slots extends through the periphery.
11. A flexible plate according to claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of slots is tapered.
12. A flexible plate according to claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of slots is tapered and provides a diminishing separation between walls forming the slot as the slot extends radially outward from the center and approaches the periphery.
13. A flexible plate according to claim 1, wherein the lower surface comprises a plurality of grooves therein extending outwardly from proximate the center portion.
14. A flexible plate according to claim 13, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of grooves extends into the center portion and the periphery of the plate.
15. A flexible plate according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of pleats extending from the center portion, each pleat forming a groove within the lower surface and a protrusion within the upper surface.
16. A flexible plate according to claim 15, wherein the plate comprises a plurality of holes extending from the upper surface to the lower surface for modifying a suction provided by the flexible plate during operation of the apparatus with a suction source.
17. A flexible plate operable with a submerged swimming pool suction cleaner, the flexible plate comprising:
- an upper surface and a longitudinally opposing lower surface defining a thickness dimension therebetween;
- a center portion having an aperture extending longitudinally therethrough for connection to a pool cleaner body, a periphery transversely displaced therefrom, and an intermediate portion therebetween, wherein the thickness dimension is generally uniform from the aperture to an outermost edge of the periphery, wherein the periphery is curved upwardly relative to the intermediate portion when the flexible plate is placed on a generally flat surface to be cleaned, thus having the intermediate portion contacting the surface to be cleaned and the periphery curved upwardly out of contact therewith at the outermost edge thereof;
- a reinforcing element integrally formed with the upper surface for reinforcing the upwardly curved periphery, wherein the reinforcing element includes a rib confined within the outermost edge of the periphery so as not to extend outwardly therebeyond; and
- a plurality of slots outwardly extending from the intermediate portion, wherein the lower surface comprises a plurality of grooves therein extending outwardly from proximate the center portion.
18. A flexible plate operable with a submerged swimming pool suction cleaner, the flexible plate comprising:
- an upper surface and a longitudinally opposing lower surface defining a thickness dimension therebetween;
- a center portion having an aperture extending longitudinally therethrough for connection to a pool cleaner body, a periphery transversely displaced therefrom, and an intermediate portion therebetween, wherein the thickness dimension is generally uniform from the aperture to an outermost edge of the periphery, wherein the periphery is curved upwardly relative to the intermediate portion when the flexible plate is placed on a generally flat surface to be cleaned, thus having the intermediate portion contacting the surface to be cleaned and the periphery curved upwardly out of contact therewith at the outermost edge thereof;
- a reinforcing element integrally formed with the upper surface for reinforcing the upwardly curved periphery, wherein the reinforcing element includes a rib confined within the outermost edge of the periphery so as not to extend outwardly therebeyond;
- a plurality of slots outwardly extending from the intermediate portion; and
- a plurality of pleats extending from the center portion, each pleat forming a groove within the lower surface and a protrusion within the upper surface.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Sep 2, 2005
Date of Patent: Jan 9, 2007
Patent Publication Number: 20050283935
Inventor: Pavel Sebor (Heathrow, FL)
Primary Examiner: Randall Chin
Attorney: Allen, Dyer, Doppelt, Milbrath & Gilchrist, P.A.
Application Number: 11/219,485
International Classification: E04H 4/16 (20060101);